Ivanka And Melania Wear Headscarves To Meet Pope (Photos)

First Lady Melania Trump and First Daughter Ivanka Trump wore head coverings when meeting with the Pope, but did not do so during their meeting in Saudi Arabia.

Melania abstained from wearing the traditional headscarf during her visit to the capital of Saudi Arabia, Indy 100 reported.

In 2013, President Donald Trump was critical of then-First Lady Michelle Obama when she decided not to wear a headscarf in Saudi Arabia. However, according to diplomatic protocol, Saudis do not expect the wife of a foreign leader to wear the head covering.

The first family visited Pope Francis in the Vatican City on May 24, moving on to the third leg of the president's world tour.

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Vatican City visitors are asked to keep their shoulders covered and their skirts below the knee. Head coverings are not expected to be worn in the papal state.

But Melania and Ivanka wore head coverings, anyway. Melania donned a mantilla, or a lace head scarf.

The meeting between the president and the Pope Francis was highly anticipated given the history between the two world leaders. During the 2016 presidential race, Pope Francis called the business mogul's proposed border wall policy "not Christian."

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"In the social and civil context as well, I appeal not to create walls but to build bridges, to not respond to evil with evil," the Pope said at the time. "To defeat evil with good, the offense with forgiveness. A Christian would never say 'you will pay for that.' Never."

Mr. Trump responded by calling the Pope's questioning of his faith "disgraceful."

Specifics regarding the conversation between Mr. Trump and Pope Francis have not been revealed at this time.

The Vatican has since issued a statement, saying the two world leaders spoke about "the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue" and also spoke about the need to protect Christians in the Middle East.

"He is something," Mr. Trump told Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in reference to Pope Francis. "We had a fantastic meeting. We're liking Italy very, very much and it was an honor to be with the Pope."

The president also took to Twitter on May 24 to talk about the meeting.

"Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis," Mr. Trump tweeted. "I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world."